Informative Speech

Public Speaking

GUIDELINES

• 4-6 minutes in length

• THREE sources, TWO of which must be from a magazine, journal, newspaper, or book from the databases OR Google Scholar.

• You must use one VISUAL AID (See Chapter 13 for ideas/guidelines)

• Dress neatly

• Use notecards, but don’t be “tied” to them

• PRACTICE!! Avoid nervous body language (swaying, rocking, hands in pockets, utterances, etc.)

Goal Statement

• Make sure you understand what your GOAL is. After you decide on a topic, I’ll ask you for this. There are three basic informative goals:

1. Increasing Understanding (I want my audience to understand the three basic forms of a mystery story.)

2. Increasing Knowledge (I want my audience to learn how to light a fire without a match.)

3. Increasing Appreciation (I want my audience to appreciate the intricacies of spider web designs.)

Research

• Use the databases (EBSCO and SIRS). To access these, go to the Library website and click on Research Resources. There are videos embedded in the next page that will help you if you need help. The log-in and password:

• SIRS -- KS0108/67052

• EBSCO – eisenhower2/tigers

Google Scholar

Another appropriate source is Google Scholar. All of the articles in this search engine are from scholarly published sources. Just

Google “Google Scholar.”

Other Websites

• If you’re using results from a general “Google” or other search engine search, use the following steps to evaluate the VALIDITY of the source:

1. Is it FACTUAL? (No tabloid news sources)

2. Is it ACCURATE, OBJECTIVE, and UNBIASED? If it clearly advocating only one side of a controversial issue, it probably isn’t. If you are on unfamiliar website, try clicking the “About” button to identify the site’s purpose or mission.

3. Reliable website are those ending in “.gov” or “.edu”. If it’s an unfamiliar website ending in “.com,” you should continue your search.

4. Is it CURRENT? In general, newest information is the best.

What to include?

• Personal experience if it’s relevant.

• PRIMARY research, such as interviews, questionnaires, surveys, or experiments.

• SECONDARY research (anything you’ve gotten from the Web, books, magazines, encyclopedias, etc.)

• Depending on your topic, you may want to include statistics, examples, expert opinions, and anecdotes or narratives.

Avoiding Plagiarism

• Just as in essay writing, you will need to provide the source for all researched information. You will do this within your speech (According the Center for Disease Control website…) and on a Works Cited page attached to your outline.

• Even if you PARAPHRASE or SUMMARIZE the facts you have researched, you must credit the source.

Works Cited PageYou may use EasyBib or click the “citation” link on your database sites. All entries should have author (if given), title of article in quotes, publication information (title, date, page numbers if given) title of database (if used), Medium (Web, Print, etc.) and date accessed (if it’s a website). All entries should be typed in alphabetical order, double-spaced, using hanging indent.

Farmer, Jalen. “What Every Parent Should Know About Cyber-Bullies.” Psychology Today 39.9(2011): 48. EBSCO. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.

“Scared in School: Bullying Statistics.” heraldextra.com. The Daily Herald, 9 May

2011. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.

See page 185 for sample

MLA citations

Presentation Aids

• Presentation aids enhance a speech by allowing audience members to see what you are describing or explaining.

• Objects, models, photographs, drawings and diagrams, maps, charts, and graphs are all appropriate visual aids.

• Audio aids include musical clips from CDs and iTunes, recorded clips from interviews or famous speeches

• Audiovisual aids include clips from movies and television, YouTube vides, and podcasts

• Sensory aids include materials that appeal to smell, touch, or taste

Choose Presentation Aids that:

• Illustrate the most important ideas for your audience to understand and remember

• Convey complex ideas that are difficult to explain verbally

• Are appropriate for the size of the audience

• Make dull information or details more interesting

• You will feel comfortable using and transporting to the speech site

• You have or can obtain the necessary equipment

Other considerations

• You should limit the number of aids to about one per minute of your speech.

• You should limit the amount of time for audio and audiovisual aids to no more than 5% of your allotted speaking time. (About 12 seconds for a 4-minute speech)

• Consider the preparation time and expense

• Limit the reading required (they should be listening to you, not reading the aid)

• Make sure you have a way to display or present the aid without disrupting the flow of the speech (do any “prep” work before you start).

• If you choose to make handouts, do not distribute them until after your speech.

Choosing a topic• Choose from SUBJECT that you’re interested in. Begin by making lists:

• Career Interests: teacher, website designer, information systems specialist, technology trainer, public relations

• Hobbies: social networking, rowing, Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization, Birding, Photography

• Issues of Concern: endangered birds, child pornography online, personal privacy on the Internet, water pollution, global warming/climate change

These lists are general SUBJECTS. Choose a few you’d like to pursue and brainstorm specific TOPICS within them.

This is where a general internet search (even Wikipedia!) might be helpful for finding specific areas of interest within the subject.

Goal Statement

• Make sure you understand what your GOAL is. After you decide on a topic, I’ll ask you for this. There are three basic informative goals:

1. Increasing Understanding (I want my audience to understand the three basic forms of a mystery story.)

2. Increasing Knowledge (I want my audience to learn how to light a fire without a match.)

3. Increasing Appreciation (I want my audience to appreciate the intricacies of spider web designs.)